I am seeking information (and images) of the Columbus Factory station - also called the Clapp's or Clapp's Factory station - on the North & South Railroad line (a.k.a. the "Narrow Gauge line," later the Columbus & Rome Railway), three and a half miles north of Columbus, GA. This was a small station with no post office, about three-quarters of a mile east of the Clapp's Factory community on the Chattahoochee River. The North & South Railroad was chartered in 1870. The station was in place by 1879. The factory closed in the mid-1880s and the station had probably closed by 1886 or 1887. I am interested in determining the precise location where the station stood (now within the city of Columbus), as well as obtaining any information pertaining to the station or pictures of it. I believe this rail line was bought by the Savannah & Western Railway, went into receivership, and was absorbed into the Central of Georgia system. Thanks.
-- John Mallory Land (retrofit@flash.net), August 15, 2004
Answers
John,
The 1898 list of CofGa stations does not show a station called
either "Columbus Factory" or "Clapp's Factory." The following table
shows stations on the R line, which was only complete to Greenville
as of 1898:
|
MP
|
Siding Capy
|
Type
|
Telegraph
|
Name
|
Agent
|
|
R 292
|
.....
|
L.
|
.....
|
Chattahoochee
|
Geo. H. Ford
|
|
R 296
|
.....
|
.....
|
.....
|
Whitesville
|
.....
|
|
R 299
|
9
|
.....
|
.....
|
Nankipooh
|
.....
|
|
R 302
|
11
|
F. L.
|
.....
|
Fortson
|
T.W. Fortson
|
|
R 304
|
.....
|
.....
|
.....
|
Hines Crossing
|
.....
|
|
R 306
|
.....
|
.....
|
.....
|
Mobley
|
.....
|
|
R 307
|
18
|
F. L.
|
C. A.
|
Cataula
|
J.W. Brawner
|
|
R 311
|
12
|
.....
|
.....
|
Kingsboro
|
.....
|
|
R 315
|
17
|
F. L.
|
H.
|
Hamilton |
E.R. Dozier
|
|
R 319
|
9
|
.....
|
.....
|
Tiptop
|
.....
|
|
R 324
|
34
|
F. L.
|
M. C.
|
Chipley
|
J.W. Caldwell
|
|
R 328
|
10
|
.....
|
.....
|
Brandywine
|
.....
|
|
R 331
|
30
|
F. L.
|
S.
|
Stinson
|
W.T. Brown
|
|
R 337
|
5
|
F. L.
|
H. C.
|
Harris City |
C.E. Carriker
|
|
R 341
|
18
|
F. L.
|
C. J.
|
Greenville
|
J. Baxley
|
A search on the data for "columbus" gives the following table:
|
Third Divison -
Between Fort Valley and Columbus |
|
Fourth Division -
Between Columbus and Birmingham
|
|
S 291
|
1500
|
L. C.
|
.....
|
Columbus
Passenger Depot
|
Geo.H. Ford, Union
Ticket Agent
|
|
S 291
|
1500
|
.....
|
.....
|
Columbus
Passenger Depot (Baggage)
|
G.T. Miller, Baggage
Agent
|
|
S 291
|
1500
|
.....
|
S. W.
|
Columbus
Passenger Depot
|
Train Master
|
|
S 291
|
1500
|
.....
|
S. D.
|
Columbus
Passenger Depot
|
Train Dispatchers
|
|
S 291
|
1500
|
L. C.
|
M. O.
|
Columbus City
Office, 11th St .
|
J.A. Roland,
City
Ticket Agent
|
|
P 291
|
1500
|
F.
|
.....
|
Columbus
|
G.L. Candler
|
| P 292 |
..... |
L. |
..... |
Chattahoochee |
Geo.H. Ford |
|
Fourth Division -
Between Columbus and Searight
|
|
S 292
|
.....
|
L. C.
|
.....
|
Columbus
Broad
Street
|
J.A. Roland, Ticket
Agent
|
|
Fouth Division -
Between
Americus
and
Columbus
|
|
Fourth Division -
Between
Columbus
and
Greenville
|
Note that "P292 Chattahoochee" does not contain "columbus" and was
added into the table by hand. This was the station at Second Avenue.
Sincerely,
Ron. Wright
-- Ron. Wright (ron@cofg.org), August 19, 2004.
Dale and Kevin - Thank you both for your responses.
Dale, I am interested in knowing more about the maps you mentioned and
how to access them.
Kevin, I agree that the station was probably farther out than the one
Dale has on 2nd Avenue. I am interested in investigating the site at
45th Steet (I expect to be in Columbus next in mid-October).
I have scanned a detail from a 1907 map that I will send both of you
that shows structures in the area - perhaps one of you will have more
insight on what the map shows. Thanks again!
-- John Mallory Land (retrofit@flash.net), August 17, 2004.
Hi:
Sorry Dale to disagree with you on this one. The 2nd Ave depot
was actually Mile zero on the C&R. the station he is talking about was
actually at near the present day crossing of Manchester Expy (45th
St.) and river. I Belive the depot site would have been just behind
the present day shell station. It was in use until WW1, because G of
Ga. was running locals out to it using a ex IC 2-6-4. Hope this helps.
Kevin Kline
-- Kevin Kline (kkl7002@juno.com), August 16, 2004.
The Sanborn Digital Maps I have of Columbus, Ga from 1885, 1889,
1895, 1900 show a depot that later on was called 2nd Ave. Depot
where 2nd Ave crosses the current CofGa (NS) line. It was located in
the junction of the Columbus & Rome Rwy. and the CofGa line and
looks like it served both lines. This station would have been placed
near 3.5 miles north of the "center" of Columbus, but I don't have
any idea if this is the station you're speaking of. I'll give more
info about the maps if you're interested.
Dale E. Burns
Webmaster, Dale's Alabama Rail Pic's
http://stagmiesalrailpics.homestead.com/home.html
-- Dale E. Burns (trainshooter@charter.net), August 16, 2004.
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